Bethlehem Councilman J. William Reynolds will run for mayor in Bethlehem.EXPRESS-TIMES PHOTO | LYNN OLANOFF

Bethlehem Councilman J. William Reynolds announced his bid for city mayor today from his front porch to emphasize the importance of Bethlehem’s neighborhoods, which he said will be the cornerstone of his campaign.

Reynolds, a city councilman since 2008, named maintaining and attracting middle class families as Bethlehem’s biggest challenge.

“It’s for this neighborhood and neighborhoods throughout the city that I’m announcing today that I’m proud to be running for mayor of the city of Bethlehem,” said Reynolds, 31, an Allentown high school teacher who lives near Moravian College.

Bethlehem needs to continue to have neighborhoods that people want to — not have to — live in, Reynolds said. The Democrat said he plans to release a specific neighborhood improvement initiative later this winter called “Winning Our Neighborhoods.”

Reynolds will face fellow Bethlehem Councilman Robert Donchez in May’s Democratic primary. Donchez plans to formally announce his mayoral campaign later this month.

“I look forward to a spirited primary with Councilman Reynolds,” Donchez said today in a telephone interview. “There are many issues facing the city and I’m sure we’ll be discussing them during the primary period.”

Mayor John Callahan cannot run again because of the city’s two-term limit for mayor. There hasn’t been a Republican candidate for Bethlehem mayor since 2003 and none are known to be running this year.

Reynolds also spoke today of Bethlehem’s troubles, including rising pension and health care costs. He said recent contracts to significantly limit the pensions of new firefighters and police officers are good steps but more must be done to make Bethlehem’s personnel costs sustainable.

“If we’re going to get our pensions under control and our health care under control, we need to be honest with our residents,” he said.

Reynolds said Bethlehem’s next mayor should be able to make decisions “that others have been afraid to make.” Reynolds didn’t name any specific decisions but conceded Bethlehem will likely face difficult decisions on its garbage collection and 911 call center this year.

Reynolds’ announcement was attended by Councilman Michael Recchiuti, Bethlehem Area School Board member Basilio Bonilla and former Bethlehem Democratic Chairman Jack Burke. Recchiuti, who is the city’s current Democratic chairman, said he hasn’t yet decided who he is supporting for mayor or if he’ll make a public endorsement.